Launching a food or drink business is one of the most exciting ventures an entrepreneur can pursue; so we spoke to artisan market and stallholder experts Pedddle for 7 essential tips for mobile caterers! Here’s the lowdown on setting your food and drink business up for success…
Whether you’re brewing up artisan coffee, serving gourmet street food at festivals or running a fully-equipped commercial food truck, this industry offers huge and varied opportunities.
Setting Your Food and Drink Business Up for Success
From crafting a stand-out menu to ensuring you have the right mobile catering van insurance, this blog will guide you through everything you need to know for event success with your business.
1. Work on your branding and products
A brand isn’t just a logo, it’s an identity. It’s how customers remember you, how you stand out at markets, events or festivals, and how you build loyalty – becoming recognisable builds trust.
Tips for strong branding include:
- Develop a clear personality (fresh, fun, artisan, gourmet, traditional – whatever you feel best fits you and what you sell).
- Be consistent with your colours, menus, logo and signage.
- Craft a food or drink offering that solves a problem, e.g. gourmet food, quick breakfasts, global flavours, plant-based treats, comfort food, or premium desserts.There’s a whole world of options, but find your niche!
A strong brand helps customers to recognise you instantly, which is essential in busy spaces full of competing traders.
Pedddle has more tips on getting your brand noticed here.
2. Consider your location
Success in mobile catering often depends on where you trade, as not all events attract the same type of customer.
Research:
- Footfall and event size
- The demographic of potential customers
- Competition, e.g. is the market saturated with similar stalls?
- Your pitch fees versus profit potential
Platforms like Pedddle.com make this easier than ever. Their directory connects hundreds of markets and events across the UK, and the stallholders that sell at them. Their subscription programme gives you the tools you need to promote your stall, reach new customers and discover trading opportunities too.
3. Make sure you’ve got the legal essentials
One of the first things you’ll need to do is understand all of your legal responsibilities as a food and drink business. This includes:
- Registering your food business with your local council
- Getting any appropriate food hygiene certificates
- Meeting environmental health requirements
- Creating allergen-safe menus
Failure to comply with these things doesn’t just risk fines, it can damage your reputation. Good food safety practices reassure customers and build trust.
4. Get clear on insurance
This is one of the most important elements of running a business. You could face expensive claims if something goes wrong.
Do catering businesses need liability insurance? The answer is almost always yes! Most UK events won’t let you trade without this, and it protects you if a customer or member of the public suffers an injury or loss linked to your stall.
Mobile catering van insurance protects vehicles used for street food, coffee vans, ice cream vans and more. For businesses operating fully-equipped setups on the move, commercial food truck insurance offers additional protection tailored to the risks you could face.
We specialise in providing insurance for mobile caterers and understand the unique challenges of working in this industry. Our policies protect you from accidents, theft, damage, and other risks that can interrupt trading.
5. Know your costing and profit margins
Your food and drinks might be incredible, but your business won’t thrive unless it’s profitable. Here are some costs to track:
- Ingredient and supplier costs
- Fuel and travel expenses
- Pitch fees at events
- Utilities (gas, electricity, water – some events may charge for these separately too).
- Insurance and maintenance for your van or stall
Even small savings add up. Always know your margins and adjust pricing when needed to remain competitive but profitable.
6. Build your Online Presence
You don’t need to be a social media or marketing expert, but you do need to be visible online. This translates into in-person footfall!
Consider:
- A simple website or profile page to advertise what you do – people could even book you this way for events in future (such as weddings).
- Maintain active social channels (Instagram and TikTok are especially strong for food, and people will make the effort to visit you in person).
- Give clear contact details
- Tell people where they can find you / have a list of events
- Show your menu updates / new or seasonal products
- High-quality photos of your food
This helps customers to find you before, during and after events, building long-term loyalty.
This is also something Pedddle helps with. Having your own website page on Pedddle gives you an online presence and lets you ‘check in’ to events, so you can be seen on event pages up to 6 months after an event – meaning customers who have already bought from you can remember who you are and find you again in future!
7. Join Supportive Communities
Running a business can feel isolating, but you don’t have to do it alone! Joining trader communities gives you access to advice, opportunities and support.
This is where Pedddle really shines. Their membership helps you:
- Connect with markets, events and organisers
- Promote your stall more effectively
- Join a community of like-minded traders
- Discover trading tips and business advice
- Cultivate an online presence to drive in-person business
Sign up and strengthen your business today
Final thoughts
Setting your food and drink business up for success requires passion, planning and the right protections. From choosing the right locations to securing tailored insurance, such as mobile catering van insurance or commercial food truck insurance, each step helps you build a reliable, profitable business.
By investing in supportive, knowledgeable communities like Pedddle, and by partnering with trusted insurers like CMTIA, you’ll give your business the best possible future.
